Collection GB 0097 KNIGHT - Knight, Sir Arthur William (1917-2003), businessman

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0097 KNIGHT

Title

Knight, Sir Arthur William (1917-2003), businessman

Date(s)

  • 1930s-2002 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

33 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Sir Arthur Knight began his working life as a clerk at Sainsbury's, taking evening classes at the London School of Economics and graduating with a first class degree in commerce. He spent a year in the Department of Business Administration before joining Courtaulds as a junior economist in 1938. During World War Two, Knight served in the Army, returning to Courtaulds after his service and becoming finance director in 1961. He was a key player in the opposition to ICI's takeover of Courtaulds during the 1960s. Knight became deputy chairman in 1970 and Chairman in 1974. After leaving Courtaulds, Knight became Chairman of the National Enterprise Board but resigned in 1980 after only one year. During his career Knight took a keen interest in management education and helped to set up the Manchester Business School, serving on its council for several years.

After retirement Knight served on several Government committees and the executive committee of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. He was a member of the LSE Court of Governors from 1971-1994 and became an honorary fellow in 1984 and pursued his interests in business history, management education and industrial policy.

Archival history

GB 0097 KNIGHT 1930s-2002 collection 33 boxes Knight , Sir , Arthur William , b 1917 , Knight , bank director

Sir Arthur Knight began his working life as a clerk at Sainsbury's, taking evening classes at the London School of Economics and graduating with a first class degree in commerce. He spent a year in the Department of Business Administration before joining Courtaulds as a junior economist in 1938. During World War Two, Knight served in the Army, returning to Courtaulds after his service and becoming finance director in 1961. He was a key player in the opposition to ICI's takeover of Courtaulds during the 1960s. Knight became deputy chairman in 1970 and Chairman in 1974. After leaving Courtaulds, Knight became Chairman of the National Enterprise Board but resigned in 1980 after only one year. During his career Knight took a keen interest in management education and helped to set up the Manchester Business School, serving on its council for several years.

After retirement Knight served on several Government committees and the executive committee of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. He was a member of the LSE Court of Governors from 1971-1994 and became an honorary fellow in 1984 and pursued his interests in business history, management education and industrial policy.

Deposited by the family in 2008.

Papers of Sir Arthur Knight, 1930s-2002, relating to his career in business and academia. The papers include biographical notes and diaries, research papers on business management and education, notes for talks and speeches and correspondence.

Unsorted.

Open

Most items can be photocopied, subject to handling and copyright restrictions. No material may be published without the prior permission of both the copyright holder and the Library. All applications for publication must be made to the Archivist in the first instance, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user.

English

List of files available from Archives staff.

Sources: Copied from LSE Archives CALM database by Anna Towlson.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Apr 2008 Education Enterprises Knight , Sir , Arthur William , b 1917 , Knight , bank director

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited by the family in 2008.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Sir Arthur Knight, 1930s-2002, relating to his career in business and academia. The papers include biographical notes and diaries, research papers on business management and education, notes for talks and speeches and correspondence.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Unsorted.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open

Conditions governing reproduction

Most items can be photocopied, subject to handling and copyright restrictions. No material may be published without the prior permission of both the copyright holder and the Library. All applications for publication must be made to the Archivist in the first instance, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

List of files available from Archives staff.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

British Library of Political and Economic Science

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area